Here's Who Won This Year's Mayor's Arts Awards In Dearborn

DEARBORN, MI – Art abounds in Dearborn. To honor the achievements of outstanding artists and thank those who support the arts, the public is invited to attend Dearborn’s version of the Oscars for the arts – the prestigious Mayor’s Arts Awards.

The Dearborn Community Arts Council and the Mayor’s Office, in partnership with the Dearborn Community Fund, present the 31st Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 10 at 7 p.m. in Studio A at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center. The public is invited to attend the awards, enjoy the entertainment, and celebrate with the honorees at the Afterglow reception in the Padzieski Art Gallery.

Admission is free.

Here's a look at this year's winners:

The Mayor’s Arts Awards Selection Committee announces and congratulates the following individuals and organizations being honored for enriching lives and communities in 2018 through their artistic talents or their dedication to supporting the arts.

The Mayor's Award will be presented to sculptor Lois Teicher. This award is given to a Dearborn resident who has achieved prominence in the arts through support or performance. Teicher’s work is on exhibit through April 11, 2019 in the Padzieski Gallery at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.

The Artist/Performer Award will be presented to opera singer Quinto Milito, founder of the Friends of the Opera Michigan. This award is given to a fine arts artist or performing artist from the greater Dearborn community who has consistently made an impact in his or her artistic discipline.

.The Arts Educator Award will be presented to Becky Ventura. This award recognizes an arts educator from the greater Dearborn community who has provided students with exemplary educational opportunities and has shown the importance of the arts through example.

The Volunteer Award recognizes an individual who, through their volunteerism, has demonstrated significant accomplishment in advancing and supporting the arts in the greater Dearborn community. The 2018 Volunteer Award will be presented to Ghinwa Karkaba.

The Patron Award recognizes individuals, businesses or corporations that have supported excellence in the arts by contributing to an arts organization or to the greater Dearborn arts community. The 2018 Patron Award will be presented to Howard and Jennifer Pingston of Cricket Properties.

The Organization Award will be presented to the Museum Guild of Dearborn. This award recognizes an arts organization for outstanding contributions to the advancement and support of the arts in the greater Dearborn community.

This year the DCAC will present an award that is not given every year. It is reserved for individuals who, through exceptional selfless dedication to the arts on a broader scale, have made a significant impact on the Dearborn community and beyond. This year, the DCAC presents its Special Recognition Award to Dearborn Symphony President Sandy Butler.

Entertainment for this year’s Mayor’s Arts Awards includes pianist Jacqueline Csurgai-Schmitt and Edsel Ford High School students performing selections from their upcoming musical, “Mary Poppins.”

MC for the evening is Richard Moore, well known for his long association with the Players Guild of Dearborn.

The Ford Community & Performing Arts Center is located at 15801 Michigan Ave.

For more information about the Mayor’s Arts Awards or the Dearborn Community Arts Council, visit www.dcacarts.org or call 313-943-3095.